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“I can’t be late with this delivery. They’re expecting me. This is a big deal.” Frustration crept into Colin’s voice.
“Or,” Nola said, chiming in, “I can sit with you here on the porch, Henry. And you can remind me of all the mean things I did as a kid.”
“Or,” Colin said, “we can stop at Culver’s when we’re done. We can get something to eat. Dad, you like their ice cream.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Henry said nodding at Nola.
“I don’t think so,” Colin said. “You have to keep a pretty close eye on him. He may end up in a stranger’s kitchen.”
Nola crossed her arms in mock offense. “I’m a doctor, Colin. I’m perfectly capable of keeping an eye on a fellow human being.” Colin still looked hesitant.
“Here.” Nola held her cell phone out to Colin. “Put your number in. I can call you if there are any problems.” Colin still looked unsure. “I’ll call if there are any issues. I promise,” Nola assured him.
Colin didn’t look convinced. He was going to be a hard sell. Just like his sister. “Seriously,” Nola said, hand on hip. “Nothing bad is going to happen. I’ll be here the entire time and if I need you, I’ve got your number.”
Colin finally took the phone from Nola, punched in his number and handed it back to her. “I owe you,” he said. To his dad he said, “See you in a little while. I won’t be long, I promise.”
Henry and Nola watched Colin climb into the U-Haul. He waved out the window as he drove away. Once he was out of sight, Henry sat down on the porch swing and began to rock back and forth.
“You look like her,” Henry said, peering at Nola. “Except for the glasses. She didn’t wear glasses.”
“She got the good eyesight and I got the brains,” Nola said and sat down next to him, their shoulders touching. Henry laughed and then abruptly stopped.
“It’s not nice to speak ill of the dead,” he said.
“You already know I’m not the nice one,” Nola said and he chuckled again.
They swung in silence. Their feet pushing off the porch floor and lifting in unison. The warm air sweeping across their skin.
“So, Henry,” Nola finally said. “They found new evidence in my sister’s murder. Her boot. Wedged in between some rocks down in the caves.”
“I didn’t know that,” Henry said, swinging a bit faster.
“It’s been a long time since anyone has tried to find Eve’s killer.” Nola looked over at Henry. “I was beginning to think no one cared.”
“I cared,” Henry said softly.
“Then who do you think killed my sister?”
“Don’t you think I would have arrested the guy if I could have?” Henry asked with irritation. Nola shrugged and Henry shook his head and planted both feet on the ground, bringing the swing to an abrupt stop. “I’m tired,” he said getting unsteadily to his feet.
“I didn’t ask you why you didn’t arrest anyone,” Nola followed Henry as he shuffled through the front door. “I just asked you who you thought might have killed Eve.”
Henry continued on to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and scanned the contents.
“Come on, Henry. I’m curious,” Nola pressed. “Just give me the name of your top suspect. Then I’ll tell you what I think.”
“I don’t want to talk about this!” Henry said, slamming the refrigerator door so hard that the contents rattled and the door popped open again.
“Okay.” Nola crossed her arms. “You don’t want to play. I’ll go first.” She took a step toward Henry. “How about this scenario? It was your perfect little daughter, Maggie.” Henry looked at Nola in disbelief.
“I want you to leave now. You need to leave,” Henry said, trying to step past her.
“I can’t leave,” Nola said blocking his path. “I promised Colin I’d stay until he got back. Did you hear me, Henry? Maggie killed Eve. She bashed her head in and strangled her.” Her voice was calm, kind and didn’t match the awful things she was saying.
“No,” Henry said, bumping past Nola, accidentally knocking a glass of lemonade off the kitchen counter that shattered as it hit the floor. He turned and with surprising speed made his way down the hallway and into his den. Nola stayed close behind him.
“And you know what they were fighting over?” Nola asked. “A guy. Cam Harper to be specific. Your perfect little girl was banging the neighbor.”
